Organisation profile

Sustainability has many facets. Inter- and transdisciplinary research and teaching characterize the School of Sustainability. Scientists in our research projects work together in the laboratory, on the heath, in the grassland, in the classroom, with the city administration, with farmers, with non-governmental organizations, with companies, with students in the lecture hall and of course at their desks.

Furthermore, we work with regional and national political actors, e.g. ministries, as well as international organizations, e.g. UNEP, UNESCO, EU. We are part of national and international bodies, e.g. sustainability advisory boards of companies, member of the German Sustainability Award, World Biodiversity Council (IPBES), in order to contribute to social change with scientific findings.

Main research areas

Vision
Sustainability science investigates on a theoretical, conceptual and empirical level how to promote sustainable development and how to find and implement effective solutions for current social and ecological challenges. The aim is to create a more sustainable future.

Sustainability researchers are called upon to take responsibility for their research, which is anchored in existing scientific knowledge and methods and serves to make the world a better place for everyone.

Mission
We promote change towards a sustainable future by developing theories, concepts and practices of inclusive education for sustainability, research, governance and management.

We acknowledge the diversity and dynamics of values, norms and behaviour and contribute with transdisciplinary methods to ensuring that tensions and differences between different disciplines, methods, topics and standards are fruitfully taken up and used with productive compromises and further developments towards sustainable development.

Principles
The School of Sustainability is guided by the normative concepts of ecological system integrity and social and economic justice.

Ecological system integrity refers to the safeguarding of life-support systems, as well as the maintenance of the well-being of life on Earth.

With social and economic justice we strive for a world in which all people can fulfil their potential without endangering system integrity and the well-being of others.

Information about the School
The School of Sustainability includes...
... ca. 25 professors
... ca. 100 research assistants
... ca. 1000 students in Bachelor and Master courses

In various inter- and transdisciplinary projects we are constantly researching and working together on changes and solutions for current challenges.

  1. Published

    Can isometric testing substitute for the one repetition maximum squat test?

    Warneke, K., Keiner, M., Behm, D. G., Wirth, K., Kaufmann, M., Sproll, M., Konrad, A., Wallot, S. & Hillebrecht, M., 12.2024, In: European Journal of Applied Physiology. 124, 12, p. 3683-3692 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    A social-ecological approach to support equitable land use decision-making

    Brück, M., Benra, F., Duguma, D. W., Fischer, J., Jiren, T. S., Law, E. A., Pacheco-Romero, M., Schultner, J. & Abson, D. J., 12.2024, In: Ambio. 53, 12, p. 1752-1767 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Widening global variability in grassland biomass since the 1980s

    MacDougall, A. S., Esch, E., Chen, Q., Carroll, O., Bonner, C., Ohlert, T., Siewert, M., Sulik, J., Schweiger, A., Borer, E. T., Naidu, D., Bagchi, S., Hautier, Y., Wilfahrt, P., Larson, K., Olofsson, J., Cleland, E., Muthukrishnan, R., O’Halloran, L., Alberti, J., Anderson, T. M., Arnillas, C. A., Bakker, J. D., Barrio, I. C., Biederman, L., Boughton, E. H., Brudvig, L. A., Bruschetti, M., Buckley, Y., Bugalho, M. N., Cadotte, M. W., Caldeira, M. C., Catford, J. A., D’Antonio, C., Davies, K., Daleo, P., Dickman, C. R., Donohue, I., DuPre, M. E., Elgersma, K., Eisenhauer, N., Eskelinen, A., Estrada, C., Fay, P. A., Feng, Y., Gruner, D. S., Hagenah, N., Haider, S., Harpole, W. S. & Hersch-Green, E., 10.2024, In: Nature Ecology and Evolution. 8, 10, p. 1877-1888 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Mindfulness and cognitive-behavioral strategies for psychological detachment: Comparing effectiveness and mechanisms of change

    Reis, D., Hart, A., Krautter, K., Prestele, E., Lehr, D. & Friese, M., 01.08.2024, In: Journal of Occupational Health Psychology. 29, 4, p. 258-279 22 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Carnivores’ contributions to people in Europe

    Palacios-Pacheco, S., Martín-López, B., Expósito-Granados, M., Requena-Mullor, J. M., Lozano, J., Sánchez-Zapata, J. A., Morales-Reyes, Z. & Castro, A. J., 08.2024, In: Ecology and Society. 29, 3, 9.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Opting Out of unclos Tribunals: The Impact of Maritime Delimitation in the Indian Ocean (Somalia v. Kenya)

    Benatar, M. & Schatz, V. J., 15.07.2024, In: Portuguese Yearbook of the Law of the Sea. 1, 1, p. 117-134 17 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Building energy institutions in a conflict zone: Interventions by international organisations in Afghanistan

    Fahimi, A., Upham, P. & Pflitsch, G., 01.10.2024, In: Energy Research and Social Science. 116, 22 p., 103711.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Diversity-enhanced canopy space occupation and leaf functional diversity jointly promote overyielding in tropical tree communities

    Ray, T., Fichtner, A., Kunz, M., Proß, T., Bradler, P. M., Bruelheide, H., Georgi, L., Haider, S., Hildebrand, M., Potvin, C., Schnabel, F., Trogisch, S. & Oheimb, G. V., 15.11.2024, In: Science of the Total Environment. 951, 12 p., 175438.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Nonlinear Dynamics of Reading and Text Comprehension

    Tschense, M., 2024

    Research output: Books and anthologiesDissertations

  10. Published

    Unveiling the Bounty: A Systematic Synthesis of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in Mediterranean Lentil and Chickpea Cultivation Through Alternative Pulse Systems

    Vollheyde, A. L., Cebrián-Piqueras, M. & von Haaren, C., 09.2024, In: Legume Science. 6, 3, 20 p., e246.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch